Q. Many people, especially young people, feel they have gone so far from Jesus, that there is no hope for them to come back. What should they do?

A. I’m Pamela Garcia, a senior at Hartland College, and I experienced a time in my life when I lost “the way.” John 14:6. I’d like to share my testimony to encourage others.

At 8-years-old I started selling fruit and candy to earn money, and by the time I reached my teens I was so self-sufficient that I neglected God’s help. Little by little, I started doing things that were not pleasing to God.

When I turned 18 , I thought I was ready to have a boyfriend, so I started dating. I went to theaters and amusement parks on Friday night, instead of going to youth programs at church.

Because of my desire to be independent, I applied to a college in Virginia, more than 1,000 miles from my home in the Dominican Republic.

When I arrived at Hartland, a small Christian college, some teachers thought I would never make it. I looked like the black sheep among the students. They could distinguish me by the wild way I dressed. I was also very rebellious and aggressive, even physically hurting my classmates.

WAKE-UP CALL

In all this turmoil I noticed the happiness of the born-again students and staff, which strongly impressed me. When I had a car accident, in which the car was totaled, I woke up to the fact that I needed Christ. Later, the school had a Week of Prayer, and I accepted Christ as my Savior and was baptized. In spite of  many bad things in my past, I was assured of God’s love and forgiveness.

The world offers a lot to distract young people and take them away from God, like unprofitable relationships with the opposite sex. Teenagers should be warned that it just takes a few wrong steps to make us lose sight of Jesus, just one sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2.

THERE IS HOPE!

But there is hope for these young people. Jesus says come to Him just as you are—sinful, helpless, and dependent. Realize your need. You can’t do it on your own, you need help. You can ask for help through prayer. Jesus promises, “Ask, and it shall be given you…” Matthew 7:7.

Once you do this, Jesus will lead you and give you light to follow Him. The Bible shows God’s will for our lives. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms 119:105. This is the lamp you need to walk through this world of darkness.

Once young people lose their way, others might think that they will never find it again. But even though they don’t show any outward signs, the Lord can be working to lead them back to the correct way. We should not judge others by the way they look, because we do not know their hearts.

Through God’s power, teenagers can find the Way and also help other struggling teens. Come to Jesus. Ask Him to be your Guide. Jesus promises, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:37. And He will be with you until the end.